Saturday, March 10, 2012

Alma (Sakaian) Shahabian: 1915 Armenian Genocide Survivor

“From Aghin”

Alma in white dress

The date April 24 is anational holidayinArmeniaand is observed byArmenians in dispersed communitiesaround the world. It is held annually to
commemorate the victims of the tragedies and atrocities suffered upon the
Armenians during the World War I era of 1914-1923. Foxboro,
Massachusetts has an intimate historical connection to these events. The late
residents, Samuel Sakaian, his niece Alma (Sakaian) Shahabian, and Archie
Shahabian, were all born in the village of Aghin, Turkey.

It is estimated that over 1.5 million
Armenians met their death by massacre, murder, starvation, and torture during
this era. Alma was a survivor in a caravan that was force marched for
sixty-five days and witnessed over 17,850 casualties. Samuel, residing in Foxboro
during the war and prohibited from traveling at the time, would discover that
all the members of his immediate and extended families in Aghin had been
killed, except for Alma. “From Aghin” is an account of Alma’s fortitude, acumen
and survival instinct interwoven with the determination of Samuel to rescue his
brother’s daughter and return to America.

Samuel K. H. Sakaian was born in Aghin,
Turkey on March 15, 1863.The village
was located on the banks of a tributary of the Euphrates River and nearby the
ancient city fortress and then provincial capital of Harput. The region was
mainly populated by Turkish and Kurd Muslims and Orthodox Armenian Christians. A
small number of Protestant Armenian Christians that resided in this area were
the focus of American Congregational missionary evangelization. The Bethany Congregational
Church of Foxboro generously supported the missionary work in this province and
fostered the settlement and employment of Armenian immigrants in the town.

In 1889 Samuel Sakaian, like many young married
Armenian men of the era, immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts in search of
employment. The majority of these men, Sakaian included, left their wives and
children in the care of extended families. In 1890, Sakaian came to Foxboro by
the assistance of Thomas B. Bourne, a Bethany deacon. He was hired as a
carpenter by Caton Bros. Bixby and Hat Company, where a number of Armenians
were employed in the napping of hats. In the summer
of 1894 the first of series of massacres against Armenians broke out in the
remote region of Sasun in southern Turkey. Two years later, the atrocities had spread
south through nearly every major Armenian town and village, including Aghin.
Estimates of the dead run from 100,000 to 300,000 and tens of thousands fled
the country. The associated plunder of homes and businesses economically ruined
countless families, and the destitute numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

At this time, the
trans-Atlantic cable provided same day telegraph communication between the United
States and Europe. But communication between Foxboro and Aghin depended on
handwritten letters delivered to Christian missionaries travelling overland
throughout Turkey. Letters were frequently lost and those that reached its
destination could take months.

When Sakaian received
news of the massacres he was determined to return to his family in Aghin. Between
the years 1894-1900, Sakaian made three attempts to reach Aghin. The news
reporting of the Foxboro Reporter provides a sense of Sakaian’s distress, fear
and frustration for the safety of his family. In an article dated August 25,
1894, titled Off for the Holy Land, the Foxboro Reporter informed its
readers, “Samuel H. K. Sakaian left
Foxboro on Tuesday of this week for Worcester, from whence he will go to New
York, and from there he sails on Wednesday, August 29th, for London.
From London, England he goes to Paris, France, from Paris to Marseilles,
France, and from Marseilles he boards a ship, which will carry him to Antioch,
in the Holy Land. At Antioch, he will buy a horse at an expense of about $25,
on which he will be obliged to ride for 15 long days before he reaches his home
in Central Armenia, near Mount Ararat. At Antioch he will also hire an ass and
its owner. On the back of the animal will be carried his carpenter tools, which
weigh several hundred pounds. These will be divided and packed in two boxes,
each holding about an equal number of pounds in order that they may be carried
to better advantage. All along the route are located inns, at which travelers
purchase necessities for man and beast.”

“Samuel has resided in Foxboro for 4 years and it is 4 ½ years since he
left his native land. During his absence a daughter 6 ½ years of age has died.
He has three brothers and one sister, all married and all residing in the same
house with his family. He was 55 days on his journey to this country, but
expects to return in 40 days, under increased facilities, and with less delay
along the route. During his residence here he has gained many friends and
carries back to his country the best wishes of all who know him. He also
carries back knowledge of various things as done in this country, which will be
of great value and lasting benefit to him. He wishes to extend his thanks to the
many people here who have befriended him either by word or deed. It is a long
and tedious journey, which he starts upon, and one beset by more or less
danger.”

Unfortunately, Sakaian was unable to gain
entry into Turkey on this initial journey. One year later, in an article dated
September 14, 1895 titled The Second Time, the Foxboro Reporter related,
“... Once before he started on this
journey but met with misfortune before sailing from Europe, and returned to
America. He will carry his carpenter tools with him, which he has purchased
since his return to America, his first chest of these necessaries having been
stolen from him during his previous journey. Samuel wishes us to say that his
heart is filled with thankfulness to the people of Foxboro for their many and
great kindnesses to him during his stay among us, and we realized that his
heart was filled with tender thoughts for our people who had befriended him, which
could not be expressed. The journey will occupy two months or more.”

A follow up Foxboro Reporter article on December
7, 1895 titled In Marseilles, aptly described Sakaian’s anxiety, “…He
is in Marseilles, France, in company with quite a body of his countrymen, all
being detained there on account of the terrible ravages, which are taking place
in Armenia, in which over 18,000 of his people, have been massacred. It is
impossible for any of them to get passports to proceed. Samuel does not know
whether his family is alive or dead, as no word of any kind has been received
from them. The nearest post-office has been visited by marauders, and their
fearful work of murder has been going on there. He still retains his chest of
carpenter tools, and will probably be able to find something to do in this line
to pay for his expenses. He was followed from Foxboro by many prayers, and kind
wishes, and it would be a comfort for him to know that he has still a warm
place in the hearts of many in this town.”

The March 14, 1896 article titled From
Armenia, the Foxboro Reporter informed its readers of Sakaian’s return and
news regarding his family. “…arrived
again in Foxboro from Marseilles, France, last week, was closely followed by a
registered letter, from his home in Armenia, receiving it on Saturday. It was
the fourth, which has been received by him, out of seven letters written to him
by his people. The others have probably been intercepted. He wrote fifteen
letters from France to his home and to those acquainted with his people in
other parts of Turkey. Nearly all of these have doubtless failed to reach their
destination. The letter received Saturday was, as stated, forwarded to him from
France, where he left his address upon leaving for his last journey back to the
United States. It was written on Wednesday, January 15th and stated
that his wife and son, his three brothers and their families, 15 persons in
all, were alive, although it was previously reported that his wife was dead.
This was cheering news to Samuel although the letter received was written
nearly two months ago.”

Foxboro’s support for the local Armenian
workers and their families in Turkey is well documented by the Foxboro
Reporter. On February 15, 1896 it reported, “The
meeting in town hall Monday evening to raise money for suffering Armenia was
fairly attended. The speaker of the evening was Rev. E. P. Allen of Portland,
Maine, who was a missionary at Harput, Turkey. His lecture was intensely
interesting, and a generous collection was taken.” On July 25, 1896, in an article titled “A
Lecture which will Interest you,” it reported, “Mr. Samuel Malkonyan, an Armenian, a native of Tarsus, “a citizen of
no mean city,” will give an illustrated lecture in Samaritan Hall upon Armenia.
Lecture will commence at 7.45. Mr. Malkonyan has traveled through Armenia, has
been entertained by the Kurds and Cirassians, and is now studying at Princeton
Theological Seminary. He has a good command of English, and his lecture is
highly spoken of. No admission is to be charged, but a collection will be taken
up to defray expenses and to aid him in his work. All the incidents will be
from a personal standpoint, and all who attend will enjoy a treat. Everybody
has a cordial invitation to be present.” A follow up article recorded, “The illustrated lecture delivered by Samuel
Malkonyan was a judicious presentation of the Armenian question. The lecture
was much more than ordinary strength as a literary production. The hearers were
pleased as was evidenced by a good collection.”

At this time, the Foxboro Reporter reprinted a
Boston newspaper article, “During the
past few days, places to work have been found for about forty of the Armenian
refugees through our efforts, and the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement and
others have been busy, and may have been even more successful. But there are
two or three hundred refugees for whom work must be found, or they will be in
danger of being sent back. Anyone who wishes to employ an Armenian on a farm or
in a kitchen, or otherwise, is invited to communicate with me as promptly as
possible. The places found for them have been chiefly on farms. One Connecticut
farmer writes that for the past fifteen years he has been employing farm hands
of various nationalities, including one Armenian and that the Armenian was the
best help of them all. Many refugees speak French, though few speak English.
Those of our readers who live in the country will confer a favor by asking
their local papers to publish this note. Alice Stone Blackwell Dorchester,
Mass.”

On December 5, 1896 the Reporter reported, “Rev. R. K. Harlow of Medway will occupy the
pulpit (Bethany Church) both morning and evening. Special offering for the
suffering Armenian Children.” Remarkably, on March 13, 1897 it described the
lecture of Miss Emily Wheeler, a former missionary and resident of Harput, “Miss Wheeler, an eye witness of the
terrible massacre of Armenia spoke before the Junior Societies of the Baptists,
Methodists, and Congregational churches, last Sunday afternoon at 5 o’clock. In
the evening at 7 o’clock she spoke before a large congregation at the Bethany
Church.”

On October 19, 1898, Sakaian became a
naturalized citizen, and two years later he returned to Aghin. The principal
reason for his return was to be reunited with his family. The improvement in
social, economic and political opportunities at this time in Turkey made this
reunion possible. He remained in Aghin for the next ten years. Soon after his
arrival, on March 28, 1902 Alma Sakaian, his niece, was born.

In general, the early years
of the 20th Century were an era of peaceful co-existence between the
Christian Armenians and Turkish Muslims. On July 24, 1908, the Armenians' hopes
for equality brightened even more with the restoration of a constitutional
monarchy. The two largest revolutionary groups during this era were the Armenian
Revolutionary Federationand theCommittee
of Union and Progress, later known as the “Young Turks.” The Federation hoped
to gain autonomy to govern the Armenian populated areas in Turkey as a state
within a state.

Unfortunately a counter-revolution staged by
supporters of the former authoritarian government directed against the Committee of Union
and Progresson
April 13, 1909 severely compromised the cooperation and trust of the
era. The revolt lasted only ten days, but it precipitated a massacre of
Armenians in the province of Adana that lasted over a month. The Mediterranean coastal region had once been
an independent Armenian state and it had been
spared the 1890's massacres. Thousands of Armenian dwellings were torched and
an estimated 30,000 Armenians were reported killed.

Sakaian feared the Adana massacres were rooted in political,
economic, and religious differences and the awakening
of Turkish nationalism. A year later he left his family in Aghin and returned
to Foxboro. The June 25, 1910 Foxboro Reporter article titled All Desire to Come explained his reason for his return, “… again arrived in this country from Armenia several weeks ago and who
has once again settled in Foxboro, will bring his wife and other members of his
family here as soon as he secures the necessary funds for them to make the long
journey. Samuel has been absent ten years. He has four children living of the
ten children born to them. One of these is a soldier in the army of his
country. He with his wife also desire to come to America, but considerable
money is required to secure his release from the army. Samuel has had varied
and sad experiences since he left Foxboro, and at times has been in imminent
danger of losing his life at the hands of the treacherous and wily Turks. He
says he never desires to return to his native land, and life will seem worth
living when his family is again here.”

On August 1, 1914 Germany declared war on
Russia. The following day a secret treaty of alliance was signed between Turkey
and Germany. On October 29, 1914 Turkey entered the war on the side of the
Central Powers. Turkish and German
military leaders feared a potential alliance between Armenians and Russians.
The fear resulted in an increase in civil and political actions against
Armenians which culminated in a defining event on April 24, 1915. On this date military authorities arrested and executed 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leadersin Constantinople.
Thereafter, the authorities removed Armenians
from their villages and force marched them in caravans for hundreds of miles towards the deserts of Syria.
It is estimated that1.5 million deaths resulted from the atrocities and
deprivations inflicted upon the Armenians at this time, including 25 members of
the Sakaian families from Aghin.

On July 1, 1915
thirteen year old Alma Sakaian along with her three sisters, a brother and mother left the village of Aghin in a
caravan of women, young children and old men. Alma’s father, two older brothers,
and all the male members of her village over the age of 16 had been brought
together several days earlier, blindfolded and executed by authorities. The
caravan of 18,000 embarked upon the ancient Roman trade route built alongside the river banks and
gorges of the Euphrates River. Sixty-five days later, Alma numbered among the
150 survivors that traversed the footpaths over the Taurus Mountains,
forded the Euphrates River at the olden city of Samsat and walked the desert
sands between the cities of Urfa, Viran
Shehr, and Ras-ul-Ain.

In a 1978 Foxboro Reporter interview titled
“An Armenian refugee’s 60-year-old tale of tragedy,” Alma recalled her
experiences. She related how the Armenians of her village were uprooted from
their homes and told to take only what could be carried on their backs and
donkeys or horses. How they were herded from their homes and soon stripped of
their animals as they headed towards the deserts of Syria. She described how on
the march she passed by the dead bodies of hundreds of fellow countrymen who
had been massacred. She recalled many distressed mothers that were separated
from the children by abduction. She remembered witnessing women, particularly
those who had babies with them, stopped to rest by the road and how often times
they were killed as they sat there, for they delayed the progress of the march.
She told of the many children and women that died of thirst when they were
driven into the desert.

Alma described how she came to be sold to a
wealthy Arab. After several days of aimless traveling in the desert she lagged behind
the caravan to attend to her younger brother. She described how without any
warning a soldier on horseback came upon them and struck them with a ball and
chain. The beating was so severe that they were left for dead. Alma survived
the attack however her brother died from his injuries. Convinced that she would
die alone in the desert, she left her brother’s body, and followed the tracks
left behind the caravan. Alma said that what she witnessed next was worse than
the beating. From a distance she witnessed hundreds of Armenian refugees being
burned to death in their rudimentary shelters while soldiers stood guard ready
to shoot any person that tried to escape. Alone in the desert for several days
after tragic immolation, she was picked up by Arab slave traders. She was soon sold
into the household of a wealthy Arabian and his wife, where she became a
personal maid to the lady of the house.

Alma recalled that the Arab was very kind and
gave her work in the kitchen. Three years later when the Armistice was signed,
and everything was under English control, the Arab asked Alma whether she
wanted to stay in his house or go into English hands. She wanted to go, so he
took her over to the English where she was placed with other orphaned refugees
in a large building under English hands. Alma’s name and origin were placed in
area newspapers, including the Boston Globe. Samuel Sakaian, while visiting a
friend in Watertown, Massachusetts, was informed that his niece was alive and
interned in an orphanage. A short time later, On July 7, 1919, Samuel, aged 56,
received his passport to visit Turkey. His purpose stated on the application, “To find my wife and children, if living and
to see if any property is left to me.”

Articles published in the Foxboro Reporter
over the next four years recorded Samuel’s journey to rescue Alma and bring her
home. On July 19, 1919 the Foxboro Reporter recorded, “Samuel
Sakaian has had under consideration for some time a trip to his native country,
Armenia. His object in making the trip is to locate if possible his wife and
family, not a word from who has he heard for years. Samuel
came to this country in 1889, made a return trip in 1900, returned to America
in 1910, and now will again cross the water in 1919, and we trust there will be
luck in odd numbers. He had a large number of relatives and has always held the
opinion that many of them were victims during the Armenian massacre. He is
undecided as to his future labors, but may devote his remaining year to the
interests of his Armenian country and people.”

On November 29, 1919, the Foxboro Reporter
recorded, “The many friends of Samuel K.
H. Sakaian will be pleased to learn that he has reached his native land in
safety. We present our readers with a letter received from him dated October 20th,
which is as follows: “I am in Constantinople. I was New York to Constantinople
twenty-one days on the water. We had a nice journey, nice food, nice bed;
everything was good. My fare from New York was $305. My health is good. By and
by I will go to the English Consul to show my passport. Went to the American
Consul, but he told me to go to the English Consul, because everything is in
English powers hands. I think I will stay here this winter, but sometime I will
see the English Consul to get advice to go to Aleppo. I found my brother’s
daughter. All the Armenian people have been without any clothing: all women,
girls and boys, have been undressed: nothing to cover themselves. I do not want
to write all the things, and I am not able to write. Thousands died of hunger and
thirst, and many of them threw themselves into the river and killed themselves.
I am sorry I am not able to write long letters, but I hope you will be
satisfied. Best regards to you all. You cannot send any letters to me now.”

In Constantinople Sakaian was employed as an
interpreter for the English army. He soon learned that his wife and children,
his brothers and their families had been massacred. The English authorities located
the orphanage where she was interned and had her brought to Constantinople.
Samuel did not recognize Alma at first, as she was a little girl the last time
they had met. He later recalled, “I found
her, the only one I have left. She was penniless and had only on a robe which
an Arab had given her to wear.” Alma remembered him and told him of her experiences.
Samuel and Alma remained in Constantinople for four years. He remarried and decided
to return to Foxboro.

The May 12, 1923 Foxboro Reporter article
titled, Samuel Sakaian Returns From Turkey, described his journey. “Mr. Samuel Sakaian, a former resident of
Foxboro, returned Wednesday after a sojourn of almost four years in Turkey. He
experienced numerous difficulties in securing passports for passage both ways,
notwithstanding, the fact that he was an American Citizen, the trouble between
Armenians and Turks since the war has made it practically impossible for an
Armenian to live in Turkey. His plan was to go to Harput in Asia Minor to
locate his family. When he arrived, he learned that all members of his family,
numbering 25 in all, which included his four brothers and their families, had
been “sent down South”; in other words, massacred by the Turks. Mr. Sakaian
does not want us to think, however, that all Turks are cruel as he tells us
that some are humane…After the Greeks had driven the Turks back and Smyrna was
burned, the Turks got power enough to drive all foreigners of every nationality
out of Constantinople. Many Americans, English, Italian and French were rushed
out of Constantinople by train and boat. After the foreigners were driven out
of Constantinople, there was very little disturbance, so Mr. Sakaian was told
by the American Consul that he could stay longer if he wished but that it would
be better to come back to America. He experienced many difficulties in securing
the passport as his was taken from him by the Turkish government on the grounds
that it “was against International Law” for Mr. Sakaian to become an American
citizen without notifying the Turkish consul in this country. In order that Mr.
Sakaian might get safely aboard the steamer for New York, he was referred to
the American Ambassador. Because of his marital status, immigration officials
recommended he leave his niece and then send for her a few months afterward.
When the appointed time came, the Ambassador had his “qavas” or military
orderly escort him to his ship. Mr. Sakaian states that he is glad to be back
in Foxboro again, and that he proposes to stay this time.”

Samuel Sakaian

Alma’s immigration was also fraught
difficulties. Aboard a Greek ship that docked in Ellis Island in New York, she
and about 50 other Armenians were denied entry because of filled quotas. The ship
returned across the Atlantic, not to her home but to the home of the ship. In
Greece for a month with little money, Alma managed to scrape by until it was
time for another try. However, when custom officials looked at her passport
picture, taken early in Alma’s life, they balked, thinking it was a forgery.
They were convinced that the woman they saw was not the child of the picture,
even though only a couple of years had elapsed. Alma recalled telling them, “If you were in my place, you’d look older,
too.”

An October 6, 1923 Foxboro Reporter article titled, “Mr. Sakaian
Misses Ship Diverted From New York To Providence: Armenian Immigrant is Finally
Admitted,” described Alma’s ordeal. “She
arrived at Ellis Island on June 30, only to find that the quota from her
country had already arrived. She was sent back to Europe and her money
refunded. Congressman Louis Frothingham took up the matter and she was allowed
an entrance. She took passage again on the steamship Canada due to arrive in
New York last Monday. This vessel was diverted to Providence where it docked on
Sunday. Samuel Sakaian went to New York on Monday to meet his niece. She landed
in Providence on Sunday. Unable to speak a word of English except “Foxboro” and
“Sam,” Alma found her way to Attleboro with the assistance of helpful
attendants and train conductors. There she was taken care of on Monday night by
the Y.W.C.A. and finally arrived here safely on Tuesday.”

A year later, Alma H. Sakaian “gowned in grey Canton crepe with hat to match”
and Archie Shahabian married in the Bethany Congregational parsonage by. Rev.
Archibald Cullens. The groom, also born in Aghin, immigrated to Foxboro in 1912
at Samuel Sakaian’s encouragement. Shahabian was employed by the Caton
Brother’s Hat Factory and later joined the Foxboro Company.

Alma (Sakaian) Shahabian

Samuel, Alma and Archie lived in Foxboro for
the rest of their lives. Alma and Archie had two sons, George and John. George
married Rose Tutelian and lived his entire
life in Foxboro. John currently resides in California.